Bollettino valanghe

Southeast Mountains

Crested Butte Avalanche Center
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Pericolo valanghe

Tue
Alta quota
2 · Moderato
Limite del bosco
2 · Moderato
Sotto il limite
1 · Debole
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Non aggiornato — questo bollettino è scaduto 3 years ago. Stai vedendo condizioni passate, non il bollettino in corso.

In sintesi

A few fresh inches of snow and gusty northerly winds formed sensitive drifts at upper elevations on leeward terrain features.  Most triggered avalanches remain smaller in size but your best bet is to avoid upper-elevation terrain with signs of drifting as there is an outside chance it could break deeper in the snowpack in isolated places.  You can find safer, and soft conditions, in sheltered terrain at lower elevations. 

Problemi valanghivi

  • Wind Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    1–1.5

    Storm totals range from 2 to 5 inches.  Northerly winds have been just strong enough to transport that new snow into small wind slabs. Wind slabs can form on the lee sides of ridgelines and cross-loaded terrain features. There is a remote possibility that an avalanche triggered in the new snow could further step down into the persistent slab avalanche problem and become larger than expected.  You can read the snow surface to identify terrain features with wind loading; look for smooth pillows of snow adjacent to scoured surfaces.

    A small soft slab that was triggered in the NW Mountains on Saturday 12/23. 

  • Persistent Slabs

    • Alta quota
    • Limite del bosco
    • Sotto il limite del bosco
    Probabilità
    Possible
    Dimensione
    1–2

    Slabs 1 to 3 feet thick exist over several persistent weak layers in the snowpack:  Weak facets and depth hoar near the ground and surface hoar layers in the upper snowpack. The problem was most common on northerly and easterly facing slopes earlier this month, along with some wind-loaded westerly facing terrain. After below-average snowfall for the last two weeks, these weak layers are expected to be temporarily dormant on most slopes, with the potential for isolated exceptions from the small amount of loading this weekend. The most suspect areas could be, extreme terrain, unsupported slopes, or previously wind-loaded terrain features. You can reduce your risk by traveling on south-facing slopes that have thick crusts, or by traveling on smaller terrain features without terrain traps.  You can avoid the problem on slopes consistently less than 30 degrees. 

    This large persistent slab was triggered by skiers descending the ridgeline on the Aspen side of the Elk Mountains last weekend, 12/17.  

Avalanche Discussion

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Storm totals range from 2 to 10 inches across the forecast zones.  The most snow fell in the Northwest Mountains along the Ruby Range and thus the greatest avalanche hazard can be found in the Northwest Mountains on slopes drifted by northerly winds.  Conditions above treeline are flirting with dangerous where you find wind-deposited snow.  An observation from Purple Ridge on Sunday gives a little taste of what you can expect on Christmas; Wind Slabs likely grew larger on Sunday night and increased in distribution.  Some drifted slopes in the Northwest Mountains may be able to produce a large avalanche in the storm snow alone.  Your best and safest strategy is to avoid upper-elevation terrain where you find evidence of fresh drifting.

You can find less avalanche danger at lower elevations in wind-sheltered terrain.  Observations from Sunday reported sloughing, or Dry Loose avalanches, as the primary concern.  One observer on Axtel was able to find buried Surface Hoar in the upper snowpack that produced signs of instability and small slab avalanches.  You can dig into the upper snowpack to look for buried Surface Hoar before committing to steep, sheltered terrain on the north half of the compass.  Sunny slopes at lower elevations lack the facets and Surface Hoar driving the storm slab avalanche problem. 

Areas in the Southeast Mountains received much less snow and therefore the avalanche danger rating is lower.  You can expect to find sensitive Wind Slabs at upper elevations but at a smaller size.  Even though these avalanches are smaller, you wouldn't want to ruin your Christmas by taking a ride in an avalanche.  Sheltered terrain in the Southeast Mountains has generally safe conditions.  Not enough storm snow accumulated to cause many problems outside of small loose avalanches on very steep slopes.  

 

Avalanche Beacon Park Update:

Want to practice your avalanche beacon skills over the holidays? A practice area is currently set up behind the community school (located here). The control box that runs the normal park is out for repairs, but in the meantime, there are two beacons buried in the training park. Get out there and get some practice over the holiday!

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